Electrical indicating system



Dec. 27', 1949 A. BISCHOFF ELECTRICAL INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24. 1949 Inventor- Alfred F. Bischoff", by 5. 4 4;,

His Attorney.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 ELECTRICAL nvmcarmc srs'rau Alfred F. Bischoil', Ballston Spa, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 24, mo, Serial No. 78,192

This invention relates to electrical devices and more particularly to a flashover indicating device for use with dynamoelectric machines of the commutator type, such as motors or generators, connected in a series electrical network.

When a plurality of dynamoelectric machines are connected in a series electrical network, a flashover of the commutator of one machine often causes the commutators of the other machines also to flash over. Moreover, the time interval between the flashover of the first machine and the remaining machines on the network may be so small as to make it difllcult to determine which machine flashed over first. v

It is an object of my invention to provide a device which may be applied to a plurality of dynamoelectric machines of the commutator type to indicate which of the several machines has flashed over first.

My invention in general consists of an electric device comprising a first plurality of electrical transformers, a transient voltage comparison network, a second plurality of electrical transformers and a plurality of thyratron tubes, all cooperating one with the other when electrically connected to a plurality of dynamoelectric machines to indicate which of the several machines was first to flashover. I

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference should be hadto the following speciflcation and accompanying drawing wherein the single figure is a diagrammatical view of my device as connected to three dynamoelectric machines of the commutator type.

Referring to the drawing. I have shown therein three commutator type dynamoelectrlc machines I, 2 and 3 which are assumed to be connected in a series network system, not shown. In such an electrical arrangement a flashover of the commutator of one of the machines is often followed by a flashover of one or more of the remaining machines. Moreover, the rapidity of fiashover of the remaining machines is usually such that it is diflicult machines initiated the flashover.

To eliminate this difliculty in accordance with my invention, I provide an electrical flashover indicating device 4 comprising a first plurality of electrical transformers 5, 8 and l, a transient voltage comparison network 8, a second plurality of electrically interconnected transformers l5, l8 and i1, and a plurality of electrically interconnected thyratron-tubes l8, l9 and 20.

In operation voltages are taken from machines ing elements 9, Ill and I .3 Claims. (cl. 177-311) formers I, 8 and 'l which transformers impress their output voltages on the. transient voltage comparison network 8 comprising three rectifyl similar to bridge ype rectifiers and having respective resistances l2, l3 and II electrically connected therein as shown. Network 8 either produces no current or produces rectified currents depending upon the input voltages received by the network. The rectified currents when produced are passed to the primary windings of transformers i5, i6 and il in magnitudes and directions depending'upon the sources from which network 8 receives its voltage, and the magnitude of the voltages received. Transform- .ers i5, i6 and I1, in response to the currents received from network 8,'initiate the discharge of one of the thyratron tubes l8, l9 or 20 depending upon which machine has flashed over first. When a discharge is initiated in one of the -tubes, current is drawn through af relay 2| which operates a flash indicator light 22; For example, thyratron tube is is operated if machine z'flashes over first and the flash indicator light 22 is energized. The operator will then inspect the tubes I 8, I 9 and 20 and the operating glow from tube I 9 will indicate to the operator that machine 2 was the first machine to flash over. Theremaining thyratron tubes l8 and 2| are prevented from operatingwhen machines I and 3 subsequently flash over by an arrangement which will be explained later.

As shown in the drawing. the primary windings 23, 24 and 25 of respective transformers 5, 0' and 'l are respectively connected to the commutators 26, 21 and.28 of respective machines I, 2 and I through the medium of brushes 29 on each machine and coupling capacitors III. Coupling capacitors 30, may be omitted, if desired, and peaking transformers used instead of the input transformers 5, 6 and 1. In order to decrease the input voltage to the, primary windings 23, 2| and 25 and thereby to avoid undesirable operation of device 4 for normal transient voltages in mato determine which of the i, 2 and 3 and impressed upon respective transchines i, 2 and 3, a gan p input attenuator 3i, having a resistance 32 in series with each of the primary windings 23, 24 and 25, is provided. The secondary windings 33, 31 and 35 of respective transformers 5, 6 and l are electrically connected respectively to rectifying elements 9, II and II of the transient voltage comparison network 8. Rectifiers 9, l0 and ii are electrically interconnected by conductors 36 and 31 and are respectively electrically connected to one end of primary windings 38, 39 and 40 of respective transformers l5, l8 and I l. The other ends of primary windings 38, 39 and 46 are electrically interconnected by conductors 4| and 42 which are connected to a ground 43. One end of each of the secondary windings 44, 45 and 46 of respective transformers I5, I6 and I1 is connected to a ground 48. The other ends of each of the secondary windings 44, 45 and 46 are connected respectively to control grids 49, 56 and 5| of thyratron tubes i8, I9 and 26 through respective coupling capacitors 52, 53 and 54 to provide a means for initiating a discharge of the thyratron tubes. Rectifiers 55, 56 and 51 are connected across respective secondary windings 44, 45 and 46, as shown in the drawing, for a purpose which will be explained later. The anodes 58, 59 and 66 of respective thyratron tubes I6, I9 and 26 are electrically interconnected and supplied with electrical power from the positive line 6|, of a direct current source through resistance 62 and relay 2 I. The electrical interconnection of anodes 58, 59 and 66 forms a part of my invention which part will be explained in detail later. The cathodes 63, 64 and 65 are electrically connected in a conventional manner, to a ground 66 which is also the negative terminal'-of th positive source 6|. The control grids 49, 56 and 5| are biased by respective adjustable resistances 61, 68 and 69' which are connected between the anodes 58, 59 and 66 and a negative power source 16. Thyratron tubes I8, I9 and 26 are provided respectively with the usual shield grids 1|, 12 and 13 connected to ground 66 in a conventional manner.

Considering the operation of flashover device 4 as applied to machines I, 2 and 3 and assuming a normal operating condition in which the voltages of the machines are substantially constant, in this case the coupling capacitors 36 retain their normal charge and no current flows in the primary windings 23, 24 and 25 of respective transformers 5, 6 and 1 and therefore the flashover device 4 remains inoperative.

Next considering a condition wherein there is a uniform increase or decrease in voltage in each of the machines I, 2 and 3, in this case the charging or discharging of capacitors 36 results in a surge of current in primary windings 23, 24 and 25 of respective transformers 5, 6 and 1 and the production of equal surge voltages by the respective secondary winding 33, 34 and 35 of the same transformers. The equal secondary surge voltages thus produced are applied respectively to the rectifiers 9, I6 and II which in turn produce equal opposed voltages on conductors 36 and 31 connecting the rectifiers 9, I6 and II and no current flows in the primary windings 38, 39 and 46 of respective transformers I5, I6 and I1. Hence no voltage is induced in the secondary windings 44, 45 and 46 to initiate a discharge in thyratrons I8, I9 and 26. Therefore, the device 4 remains inoperative insofar as thyratron tubes I8, I9 and 20 are concerned and no indication of flashover is given. The current supplied by the secondaries of transformers 5, 6 and 1 is dissipated by flowing through the resistances I2, I3 and I4 of the rectifiers 9, I6 and II.

Next assuming small unbalanced transient voltage changes in one of the machines I, 2 and 3, for example machine 2, in this case capacitors 36 connected to machine 2 are charged or discharged to cause surge current to flow in the primary winding 24 of transformer 6, thereby producing an output surge voltage from the secondary winding 34. This output voltage is impressed on bridge rectifier II) to produce a voltage difl'erential at points X and Y on rectifier I6, the polarity parallel path through conductor 31, resistor I4,

negative voltages in secondary windings 44 and a conductor 16. primary winding 46, back through conductor 42 to primary winding 39, and thence through conductor 14 to point Y. A third surge current flows from point X to point Y through resistance I3. The flow of current in the above three paths are indicated by arrows in the drawing. This is, surge current flows in primary winding 36, in an opposite direction to the surge currents in primary windings 38 and 46. As-

suming point x on rectifier I6 to be positive with respect to point Y, then transformers I5, I6 and I1 are connected so that a surge of current in a. downward direction in primary windings 38, 39 and 46 will cause a voltage negative with respect to ground to be produced by the respective secondary windings 44, 45 and 46, and a surge of current in an upward direction in primary windings 36, 39 and 46 will cause a voltage positive with respect to ground to be produced by the respective secondary windings 44, 45 and 46.

Having assumed point X on rectifier I6 to be positive with respect to point Y and understanding.that the polarity at points X and Y remains the same for voltage surges in either direction in primary winding 24, then the resulting surge of current in primary winding 39 of transformer I6 is in an upward direction thus producing a positive voltage from the secondary winding 45 of transformer I6. The positive voltage thus produced is transmitted through coupling capacitor 53 to control grid 56 of thyratron tube I9 thereby tending to initiate a discharge of tube I9. However, the voltage thus applied to control grid 56 or thyratron tube I9 must be suflicient to overcome the negative biasing volta e thereon if a discharge of tube I9 is to be initiated. However, in the case where such voltage is derived from small unbalanced transient voltage changes on machine 2 such a voltage will not be sufiicient to initiate a discharge of tube I9 because the input attenuator II will be adjusted to diminish such a signal. As regards thyratron tubes I6 and 26, the direction of surge current in windlugs 38 and 46 of respective transformers I5 and I1 is in a downward direction thereby producing 46 which negative voltages are prevented from reaching control grids 49 and II of respective thyratron tubes II and 26 by means of respective rectiflers 55 and 51. Such negative voltages are conducted to the ground 46. Therefore, for small unbalanced transient voltages of one machine, device 4 does not indicate a flashover, although some positive voltage is applied to the control grid of one of the thyratron tubes I8, I9 or 26.

Finally, considering the case of a flashover on one of the machines, for example machine 2, then the same operation takes plac except for magnitude of voltages and currents in the device. In this case a strong current surge is received from capacitors 36 connected to machine 2 which surge is sufllcient to override the eifect of input attenuator 3| and a sumciently strong voltage is applied to control grid 56 to caus thyratron over indication.

So far, I have shown an arrangement for initiating the discharge of an electronic tube, such as tube It, when a flashover occurs onpne of the machines, such as machine 2. However, when the remaining machines I and 3 flash over, a voltage will likewise be applied to control grids l9 and 5| of-thyratron tube It and II, thereby tending to cause these tubes to discharge, and since these subsequent flashovers normally occur within a fraction of a second from the time of-the first flashover, there would not be sufficient time for the operator to observe which tube first operated. I; therefore, provide an electrical arrangement of thyratron tubes It, It and 20 wherein the remaining tubes are prevented from operating after the first tube has operated, reardless of the flashover of other machines. In this arrangement the anodes It, 5! and SI of respective thyratron tubes II, I 9 and 2|! are electrically interconnected as previously described. As so connected, when tube It begins discharge its internal impedance is thereby reduced and the voltage onthe anodes ll, 59 and 80 decreases to a fraction of its previous value. The decreased voltage across tube IB is sufficient to continue its discharge because the internal resistance of a thyratron tube is low after discharge is initiated, but the decreased voltage is not sufflclent to initiate. a discharge of tubes l8 and 20.

Moreover, in addition to the reduction of the anode voltage of tubes l8, l9 and 20 below a value necessary to initiate a discharge of these tubes, the negative voltage applied to the control grids 49, 50 and II of respective tubes l8, l9 and 20 is simultaneously made more negative. That is, since the anode voltage which is reduced by discharge of tube is is the positive voltage on the adjustable grid resistors 81, t8 and 69 and since the negative potential supplied from line 10 to the grid resistors is maintained constant, there is a change of control grid voltage to a greater negative value. This increase in negative voltage on the control grids of tubes l8 and forms a further impediment in addition to the lower anode voltages of tubes II and 2| preventing the initiation of a discharge of these tubes. Thereguano .tube It to discharge thereby providing a fl s the primary winding 38 would be a voltage wave having a positive value which wave is then followed by a voltage wave having a negative value of somewhat decreased amplitude, the decrease depending upon the parameters in the equation above. The voltage wave having a negative value is undesirable, as it may cause tube It to deionize and thus remove the visual indication of flashover before it is noted. However, in considering the application of rectiflers 55, 56 and 51 to the secondaries of respective transformers II. It and I1, it was pointed out that all negative voltages are conducted to ground 48 and do not reach control grids 49, 50 and 5|. The eflect of rectiflers 55. 56 and 51 is such as to modify the above equation by making R2, at and 5 a function of time in such amanner as to cause the wave to decay much more rapidly and yet not influence the initial positive amplitude. Therefore, the voltage wave having a negative value following the positive discharge initiating wave is very small and insufficient to cause tube It to .large so that the positive wave occurring during the period when st varies from 1r to 21, i. e. the period immediately following the negative wave, is very much decreased in amplitude and mmcient to cause tubes l8 and 20 to discharge. The decay of the flashover transient surge current applied to the primaries 38, 39 and 40 of transfore, only tube ll remains operating thereby indicating a fiashover of machine 2.

Another problem remains with respect to the operation oftubes II, I 9 and 20 in that the discharge of capacitors It occurs in a very short period of time causing a voltage of very steep wave front to be applied to the primary winding 39 of transformer it. The transient response of the transformer will produce a voltage in the transformer secondary 45, of the type where sec. is the secondary voltage, R1 is the primary source resistance, R: is the load resistance, t is time and a and saw constants depending upon R1, R2, the leakage reactance and the equivalent secondary capacity.

From the equation, it can be seen that this is a decremental sinusoidal type wave oscillating about the value of the non-transient output of the transformer secondary and decreasing in amplitude at an exponential rate until it approaches the non-transient output-value.

Thus the immediate response, 1. e. where pt varies from 0 to 'r, of the secondary winding 45 of transformer It, to the steep wave applied to formers l5, It and I1 is at a much lower rate than the initial rise of current and its effect is therefore a positive voltage of insuilicient amplitude to cause grids. and 5i to initiate a discharge of respective tubes I8 and 20. Therefore, the decay of surge currents in primary windings 38 and 40 will not cause tubes l8 and 20 to discharge.

To reset device 4, the operator may interrupt the discharge of tube l8, I! or 20 by momentarily pressing a reset button 16 which electrically connects the anodes 58, 59 and 50 to ground 66, as shown in the drawing. Upon release of reset button I6, device I is again ready for operation in response to a flashover on one of the machines.

A resistance 11 and capacitor 18 may be connected in parallel across each of the primary windings 38, 39 and ll] of transformers l5, l8 and I1, if desired, to eliminate electrical noise.

I have, therefore, provided a flashover indicating device for use with commutator type ynamoelectric machines connected in a series network,

which device is capable of indicating which of a from my invention in its broader aspects, 'and I therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

' the voltages received from said first plurality of transformers, a second plurality of electrically interconnected transformers electrically connected to the output of said transient voltage comparison network and arranged to produce voltages responsive to the output voltages of said transient voltage comparison network, and a plurality of electrically interconnected grid biased thyratron tubes, said tubes having control grids electrically connected to the secondary windings of said second plurality of transformers, said tubes being arranged to prevent the remainder of said tubes from operating after one tube has operated, and means for grounding the negative voltages of said secondary windings of said second plurality of transformers to provide only positive signal voltage on said control grids of said electronic tubes, whereby upon a fiashover of the commutator of one of said machines a visual signal is provided indicating which of the machines was first to flashover.

2. An electrical device for use with a plurality of dynamoelectric machines of the; commutator type, said device comprising a first plurality of transformers electrically connected one to each of said machines and each responsive to 2. voltage change across the armature of the machine to which it is connected, a transient voltage comparison network electrically connected to said first plurality of transformers and arranged to produce different output voltages dependent upon the voltages received from said first plurality of transformers, said comparison network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected rectifiers, each of said rectiflers being connected to a different one of said first plurality of transformers, a second plurality of electrically interconnected transformers electrically connected to the output of said transient voltage comparison network and arranged to produce voltages responsive to the output voltages of said transient voltage comparison network, and a plurality of electrically interconnected grid biased thyratron tubes, said tubes having control grids electrically connected to the secondary windings of said second plurality of transformers, said tubes being arranged to prevent the reminder of said tubes from operating after one tube has operated, and means grounding the negative voltages of said secondary windings of said secondplurality of transformers to provide only positive signal voltage on said control grids of said electronic tubes, whereby upon a flashover of the commutator of one of said machines a visual signal is provided indicating which of the machines was first to flashover.

3. An electrical device for use with a plurality of dynamoelectric machines of the commutator type, said device comprising a first plurality of transformers electrically connected one to each of said machines and each responsive to a voltage change across the armature of the machine to which it is connected, a transient voltage comparison network electrically connected to said first plurality of transformers and arranged to produce different output voltages dependent upon the voltages received from said first plurality of transformers, a second plurality of electrically interconnected transformers electrically connected to the output of said transient voltage comparison network and arranged to produce voltages responsive to the output voltages of said transient voltage comparison network, and a plurality of electrically interconnected grid biased thyratron tubes, the control grids of said tubes being electrically connected to the secondary windings of said second plurality of transformers, the anodes of said tubes being electrically interconnected to reduce the anode voltage on the remaining tubes after discharge has been initiated in one tube thereby preventing operation of the remaining tubes, and means grounding the negative voltages of said secondary windings of said second plurality of transformers to provide only positive signal voltage on said control grids of said tubes, whereby upon a flashover of the commutator of one of said machines a visual signal is provided indicating which of the machines was first to flashover.

ALFRED F. BISCHOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

